Pool-ball cabinet



(N Model.) L. H. F. OOQUARD & P. A. MGGINNIS.

- POOL BALL GABINET.- No. 323,854. Patented Aug. 4, 1885.

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UNITED STATES LEON H. F. ()OQUARD AND FRANCIS A'. MCGINNIS, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

PATENT OFFICE.

POOL-BALL CABINET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 323,854, dated August 4, 1885.

Application filed September 29, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, LEoN H. F. GO UARD.

full, clear, and exact description of the same,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

Our invention consists in the combination of devices and appliances hereinafter specie lied, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section of a device embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section along theline XY. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section along the line Y Z. Fig. 4 is a separate view of the drawer. Fig. 5 is a cross-section of the same.

()ur invention relates to improvements in pool-ball cabinets, our object being to provide a cabinet for pool-balls so constructed that when the balls have been placed upon the shelves of the cabinet, they may be read ily discharged from said shelves, through one or more runways, into a triangular drawer, ready to be removed to the table, this operation being performed without the necessity of taking ofi the balls by hand from the shelves, dispensing also with a basket or similar utensil for carrying the balls to the table, the triangular drawer, which receives the balls from the shelves at the base of the runways, being constructed with a removable bottom, so that said drawer will answer all the purposes of an ordinary triangle in locating the balls upon the table, as well as enabling said balls to be carried therein from the rack to the table. Our device therefore consists, essentially, of shelves arranged upon an incline communicating with one or more runways at the ends of the shelves, said runways communicating with atriangular drawer at the base, having a removable bottom, the communication from the shelves to the runways being controlled by adjustable slides.

\Ve carry out our invention as follows:

A is any suitable case.

A represents the base of the case, constructed with a triangular shaped drawer, B said drawer provided with a removable bottom, B, having any suitable connection therewith. We prefer simply to have said slide suitably dovetailed upon one side, as shown at b. We prefer, also, to locate said bottom upon an incline in said, drawer B, as this incline causes the balls as they descend the runways to run down to the point of the triangle, thus preventing their clogging or obstructing the descent of subsequent balls, this construction causing the balls to roll forward, leaving the communication with the runways clear. bottom also causes the balls to roll forward as the bottom is removed, leaving the balls upon the table more compactly.

0 represents a series of shelves to receive the balls. These shelves may have an incline in one direction only, or they may be constructed to decline in both directions from the center, as shown in the drawings.

D represents a runway located at one or both ends of the shelves, said shelves communicating therewith through orifices a. We prefer to construct the runways in the shape of any suitable spiral conveyer or track, the construction being such that the balls from each shelf may readily pass from the shelf onto said track or into said runway. We prefer to construct the run way with a spiral or winding track, to ease the descent of the balls to the drawer, to prevent noise, and injury to the balls. WVe prefer, also, that the runway should have a suitable lining, (indicated by a heavy Moreover, this incline of the black line, d,) of felt, rubber, or any proper material. By constructing the cabinet with only one runway it may of course be produced more economically, but we would have it dis tinctly understood that we contemplate the use of a single runway at one end of the shelves, or of two runways located adjacent to both ends of the shelves, as may be preferred, both runways, in case two are employed, being the duplicate of each other, except that we prefer to have the track run in reverse directions. The base of the case A is "constructed with one or more channels, A communicating with the runways and also with the drawer B. These channels are also preferably lined with felt or other suitable material, as indicated by the letter. The

drawer may be also lined, as likewise indicated by letter (I.

E represents a series of slides for controlling the connnunication of the shelves with the runways, constructed to open and close the orifices to. These slides may be operated in any suitable manner.

As shown in the drawings, a represents suitable guideways or tracks in which said slides may be reciprocated.

F is a series of operating-bars extended to the exteriorof the case and connected with said slides by slotted arms, f, engaged with a stud or pin, 6, upon said slides, the construction being such that as said bars are rotated said slides will be shifted to and fro to open and close the orilices a.

The operation of the device will be readily understood. During the course of the game the orifices a are closed while the balls are being placed upon the. shelves. Then it is d esired to remove them again to the table, by rotating said operating bars the corresponding slides are thrown back, opening a communication from the adjacent shelves to the runway for the balls and to the drawer. Said draweris then removed with the balls contained therein to the table. The inclined bottom is removed, throwing the balls forward into compact position upon the table. The slide may then be replaced in the drawer, and the drawer replaced in the cabinet. The slides are closed, when the shelves are ready to receive the balls again.

\Ve do not conline ourselves to any definite and precise construction of the runways. They may be made of wood or any suitable metal, and the spiral tuck may be of any suitable form.

The drawer may be provided with a lock, thus making the device answer more fully the purposes of the cabinet.

hat we claim is 1. In a pool-ball cabinet, the combination of a removable triangular drawer, having slots near its base and a removable inclined bottom, sliding and taking in such slots, substantially as described.

2. In combination with a pool ball cabinet, a removable triangular drawer having a removable inclined bottom, substantially as described.

3. In combination with a pool-ball cabinet, a spiral runway, communicating with the shelf or shelves thereof, substantially as described.

4C. In a pool-table cabinet, the combination of one or more inclined shelves and a spiral runway communicating with the inclined shelf or shelves, for delivering the balls thereon at one point or in one receptacle, substantially as described.

5. In a pool-ball cabinet, the (JOll'lbll'lllIlOll of one or more inclined shelves, a runway communicating with said shelves, and a series of independent valves controlling said communication, and adapted to be controlled seriatim or singly, at the option of the operator, substantially as described.

6. In a pool-ball cabinet, the combination of one or more shelves communicating with a spiral runway, a spiral runway and reciprocatin g slides, the communication between said shelves and said runway controlled by said reciprocating slides, said slides controlled by an operating-bar connected therewith, sub stantially as described.

7. In a pool-table cabinet, the combination of one or more inclined shelves connnunicating with a runway, a winding runway, and a drawer at the base of said runway for receiving the balls from the shelves passing down the runway, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

LEON H. F. (JOQUARD. FRANCIS A. MCGINNIS. Witnesses:

N. S. WRIGHT, M. B. ODoennrurv. 

